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Phoebe Rings started with Crystal Choi in 2019, eager for an outlet after finishing jazz school. “I got very sick of jazz. I just didn’t want that sound anymore,” she adds, “Dream-pop was my favourite thing to listen to. It fits the vibe and visuals of where I wanted to go.” Graham Reid praises the ethereal fantasy: “If the occasion arises for you to take a few moments to let the world go, this is the EP for you.”
Choi moved to New Zealand in 2000, growing up in a Korean-speaking home in Tāmaki Makaurau on the North Shore. She gravitated to the keyboard after school while her parents worked long hours to set up a new business. In an interview with Metro Mag, Choi reflects on the nuanced layers she brings growing up between cultural fabrics as a Korean New Zealander. With these inspirations, her gut tends to pull her toward the introspection of her first language, found in Korean ballads and literature. Speaking to Rat World, lyrics are the final puzzle piece after settling on a melody or groove.
Starting in classical piano, jazz school was an opportunity for self-discovery. Since graduating, she’s toured internationally with sonically creative projects like Princess Chelsea and Jonathan Bree, who suggested Benjamin Locke for bass. After hearing the tracks, he immediately jumped at the opportunity to collaborate.
The band are talented musicians in their own right. Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent (Princess Chelsea) is also the bedroom pop project Lucky Boy. Alex Freer (Tiny Ruins) is known for his sultry synth-pop solo project, A.C Freazy. “Everyone is very selfless and in service of the music. We’re all on the same mission statement,” adds Freer, “We might add an interesting spice, but everyone wants to make a good soup.”
Described by RNZ as an ‘indie supergroup,’ Phoebe Rings intentionally weaves in each member’s expertise. Freer brings a polished and slick approach to the project. Meanwhile, Kavanagh-Vincent uses unconventional production techniques with rhythmic syllabic additions. Locke is a bassist with unexpected and considered lyricism. And at the helm: Choi’s agile, soaring, intimate vocals and songwriting.
They’ve since opened for the likes of Arlo Parks and The Beths, and played in Fringe Festival (Outsider Sounds Festival) 2020, Nestfest 2020, Festival of Lights 2024, and Future Future Festival 2024. The momentum is infectious, with the band making ‘Best New Zealand Music of the Week,’ round-ups on the Rolling Stones, and music featured in Kid Sister (TVNZ+) and White Fever (ABC, AU).
Having signed with acclaimed US indie label Carpark Records, the band played SXSW Sydney in October 2024, and are well underway with their upcoming album.
